Click here to submit your question

Q.: Hello, Ed. What's the real scoop on Gary Russell? He looked promising last preseason (I know it's only preseason) but he saw very limited action last year. He appears to possess some size and quickness. This year he's been on the practice squad because of depth reasons surely, but is there any behind-the-scenes reasons for his slow development?

Christopher Stafford, Charlotte, N.C.

BOUCHETTE: No hidden agendas. He's only in his second season. Willie Parker sat almost all of his rookie season before he played in the final game of 2004 when Bill Cowher rested Jerome Bettis. Russell did not play football in 2006 after a good 2005 college season. He went undrafted in 2007 and the Steelers signed him. He made the team last year and he made it again this year but they needed to add a special teams player a few weeks ago and they had to make room for him and Russell was it. He's back on the roster now and Bruce Arians said he's looking forward to seeing what he can do.